Arizona basketball coach Sean Miller praised K-State guard Marcus Foster for his play Tuesday.

“Respect isn’t a good enough word to describe how we categorize him as a player,” Miller said. “There aren’t too many guards in this country who are better basketball players who mean more to their team.

“The thing that I admire about him is he really does things through the flow of his team. He forces very little. He takes great shots and makes his teammates better. Seems like a great kid. Obviously, he is one heck of a player, and he proved that tonight.”

Miller was also impressed by Thomas Gipson, who scored nine points.

“Thomas Gipson is very good, as well,” Miller said. “I mean, he’s a load.”

▪ K-State basketball coach Bruce Weber said Justin Edwards needs to find his scoring groove.

Edwards, a shooting guard who transferred from Maine, was billed as an elite scorer in the preseason. But he hasn’t live up to the hype. He has played especially poorly away from Bramlage Coliseum, scoring two points at Long Beach State, going scoreless against Purdue and managing one point against Arizona.

He was at his worst from close range, missing a layup in the first half and an alley-oop dunk in the second half.

“We need Justin Edwards,” Weber said. “This is all new to him. It’s a big stage.”

First Half

Key Play: Marcus Foster made a three to give K-State a 13-8 lead.

Key Stat: K-State’s bench outscored Arizona’s bench 11-2.

Second Half

Key Play: Gabe York hit a three to put Arizona ahead 52-43.

Key Stat: Foster was the only K-State player to finish the game in double figures.